This Saturday, April 15, marks exactly 10 years since the Boston Marathon bombings and many are running this year to support the survivors.
Local entrepreneur, Courtney Dwyer, is running this year in the 127th Boston Marathon, to raise money for both the Greg Hill Foundation and Webb Norden Foundation. When tragedy struck the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013, Dwyer’s friend Jacqui Webb, her fiancé Paul Norden and his brother, JP Norden were all hit by the second bomb. Jacqui suffered severe injuries from the shrapnel while Paul and JP both lost a leg in the attacks.
Dwyer shared that she’s running to make a difference and support survivors. Immediately following the attack, The Greg Hill Foundation helped Webb and other marathon survivors in a fast, meaningful, and impactful way. Dwyer is a board member of the foundation, and with Webb, has worked to raise over $20 million dollars to help over 9,000 beneficiaries. Recently, Webb launched her own foundation, the Webb Norden Foundation which supports children and young adults who have been involved in a traumatic event, and Dwyer is raising funds for both this marathon season.
Beyond her fundraising run this coming Monday, Dwyer hosted a fundraising event at Capo's Supper Club on April 6, drawing a crowd of over 100 people for a night of food, drinks, raffles and more.
At the event, Webb shared her gratitude, saying, "We are beyond thrilled and thankful to have Courtney running for us and the Greg hill foundation at this year’s Boston Marathon. This is a dream collaboration and we are honored Courtney wanted to include us in her run, especially with this year’s anniversary. Since the day we met Courtney, she’s had a spark and tenacity making her fearless with the biggest heart. She is inspiring us every step of the way and we couldn’t be more proud to watch her cross the finish line with our foundation!"
This Saturday is also One Boston Day, a day for people to come together through acts of service. The city has created a calendar of volunteer events, including park cleanups, a blood donation drive at the American Red Cross in Dedham and a food drive at the Yawkey Food Pantry in Dorchester. The city also encourages residents to use their checklist of kind acts, such as supporting local businesses, donating to a local museum and connecting with your community.
Learn more about both foundations on Dwyer’s Boston Marathon fundraiser page as well.